'Make no mistake, they can win it'

The pundit, who scored 313 goals in 622 career games for club and country, used his latest column on Coral to buck the increasing trend of writing off Leicester City's title chances.

"I think it’s time for people to stop saying that Leicester can’t win the league," Shearer wrote on Coral.

"Make no mistake, Leicester can win the Premier League. Three points clear after 23 games is a remarkable achievement, so nobody should say they can’t do it.

"I know they have three tough games coming up, but they had three tough games over Christmas and they answered the questions then as well.

"We have been waiting a long time for this Leicester bubble to burst, but it must be the biggest bubble in history at this stage!

"The more people keep on expecting the blip to hit, the more the pressure will be off Leicester.

"It would be absolutely amazing if they did it, it would be the biggest shock ever in football. I can’t remember a team that were that big a price at the beginning of the season, to go on and win the title.

"It would also be pretty embarrassing for all the other clubs who have spent hundreds of millions. Every neutral will want Leicester to do it."